Monday, October 31, 2022

The Energy News Digest for October 31, 2022

The Energy News Digest is sponsored by the Northwest Public Power Association. 

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Please note that media organizations update their websites regularly, which may result in broken links.

HOTSHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Washington State Ends All COVID-19 State of Emergency Orders on Halloween (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/3690549/washington-ends-all-covid-19-state-of-emergency-orders-on-halloween/

‘It’s Got Nasty’: The Battle to Build the U.S.’s Biggest Solar Power Farm (Yahoo! News)

https://news.yahoo.com/got-nasty-battle-build-us-063519084.html

Oregon PUC Approves 25% Rate Hike for Cascade Natural Gas Residential Customers Due to Soaring Gas Prices (KTVZ-TV, Bend, OR)

https://ktvz.com/news/central-oregon/2022/10/27/oregon-puc-approves-25-rate-hike-for-cascade-natural-gas-residential-customers-due-to-soaring-gas-prices/

WA State: Quinault Indian Nation to Close ‘Digital Gap’ with New Cable Landing Station (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

https://www.thedailyworld.com/news/quinault-indian-nation-to-close-digital-gap-with-new-cable-landing-station/

California Set a Record for Greenhouse Gas Reductions in 2020, But It Means Nothing (Los Angeles Times, CA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2022-10-30/californias-greenhouse-gas-emissions-drop-9-in-2020

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (See Stories Below)

1.      Oregon PUC Approves 25% Rate Hike for Cascade Natural Gas Residential Customers Due to Soaring Gas Prices

2.      NW Natural Customers Will See Rate Increase

3.      Energy Rates to Rise for Some Montana Residents

4.      Utah on the List for a Possible Nuclear Power Plant

5.      Wyoming: Power Deregulation Bill Falters Over Worries About Risk

6.      In 2021 U.S. Natural Gas-Fired Power Generation Declined for the First Time in Four Years

7.      Analysis-Hydro Giant Canada Faces Provincial Divides in Electrification Drive

8.      Europe’s Energy Crisis Raises Firewood Prices, Theft Fears

9.      Our Ailing Power Grid Isn’t Cut Out for Climate Change

10.   California: Man’s Body Found Inside Electrical Vault at Abandoned Carousel Mall in San Bernardino

11.   Commentary: Why Is Hydroelectricity So Green, & Yet Unfashionable? The oldest renewable source of energy deserves a better fate

12.   Guest Essay: Climate Action Is in Our Hands with Tech That Encourages Small Steps

13.   Guest Essay: Can Trains Save Salmon?

14.   Opinion: What Would We Do Without High-Speed Internet? Rural America Knows the Struggle

15.   ‘It’s Got Nasty’: The Battle to Build the U.S.’s Biggest Solar Power Farm

16.   In Nevada, A Tribe & a Toad Halt a Renewable Power Plant

17.   Alaska: Golden Valley Electric Association Task Force Proposes Community Solar Project

18.   Community Solar: Get Solar Power for Your Home Without Rooftop Panels

19.   Consumers, Not Corporations, Saved the Power Grid. What Else Can We Do?

20.   WA State: Group Raises Concerns on Hatchery Production after Grants Approved for Cowlitz Restoration

21.   New U.S. Plan Could Lead to Federal Action on Colorado River

22.   Drought Snarls Mississippi River Transit in Blow to Farmers

23.   For Drought-Plagued California, Diverting Columbia River Water Is a Pipe Dream -- For Now

24.   Battle of the Alps? Water Woes Loom amid Climate Change

25.   California Set a Record for Greenhouse Gas Reductions in 2020, But It Means Nothing

26.   Has This Iconic Pacific Northwest Tree Reached a Tipping Point?

27.   An Influential Energy Group Sees Reason for Climate Optimism

28.   The Next Hot Job of the Climate Crisis: Fake-Snow Whisperer

29.   WA State: Quinault Indian Nation to Close ‘Digital Gap’ with New Cable Landing Station

30.   Lewis County, ToledoTel Officially Launch Broadband Expansion Project in Winlock

31.   CenturyLink Ordered to Fix Poor Service in Rural Montana

32.   USDA Dishes Out $759 Million to Boost Rural Broadband in 24 States

33.   WA State: Grand Opening Set for Microsoft Data Center Near Pangborn

34.   Something Surprising Can Cause Electric Vehicles to Catch on Fire. Here’s What Experts Want You to Know

35.   Musk Sets Nov. 7 Deadline to Revamp Twitter Verification or Engineers Get Fired, Report Says

36.   NASA Caught the Sun Smiling Down on Us, But the Grin Could Signal a Solar Storm

37.   It’s Alive! High-Voltage Lab Sparks Halloween Frankenstein Fantasies

38.   Swarming Honeybees Can Produce as Much Electricity as a Thunderstorm, New Study Says

39.   Washington State Ends All COVID-19 State of Emergency Orders on Halloween

40.   2022 Fire Season Burns Fewer Acres Than Recent Years, Washington Fire Officials Say

WORD OF THE DAY – HORRIBLE HAIKU EDITION

Lycanthropy /lie-KANN-thruh-pee/ Noun – 1: a delusion that one has become a wolf 2: the assumption of the form & characteristics of a wolf held to be possible by witchcraft or magic.

Dental dilemma

Bob’s canines grow at full moon

Lycanthropy, Yes!

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.      Oregon PUC Approves 25% Rate Hike for Cascade Natural Gas Residential Customers Due to Soaring Gas Prices (KTVZ-TV, Bend, OR)

https://ktvz.com/news/central-oregon/2022/10/27/oregon-puc-approves-25-rate-hike-for-cascade-natural-gas-residential-customers-due-to-soaring-gas-prices/

2.      NW Natural Customers Will See Rate Increase (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/oregon-utility-commission-approves-increase-rates-nw-natural/283-c3e6d850-deef-460b-96a7-0a7de9c6c382

3.      Energy Rates to Rise for Some Montana Residents (NBC Montana)

https://nbcmontana.com/news/local/energy-rates-to-rise-for-some-montana-residents

4.      Utah on the List for a Possible Nuclear Power Plant (Salt Lake Tribune, UT)

https://www.sltrib.com/renewable-energy/2022/10/27/is-nuclear-power-step-closer/

5.      Wyoming: Power Deregulation Bill Falters Over Worries About Risk (Casper Star-Tribune, WY)

https://trib.com/business/energy/power-deregulation-bill-falters-over-worries-about-risk/article_52b5af60-5710-11ed-8af7-b30a63247768.html

6.      In 2021 U.S. Natural Gas-Fired Power Generation Declined for the First Time in Four Years (U.S. Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=54459

7.      Analysis-Hydro Giant Canada Faces Provincial Divides in Electrification Drive (International Business Times, Canada)

https://www.ibtimes.com/analysis-hydro-giant-canada-faces-provincial-divides-electrification-drive-3628906

8.      Europe’s Energy Crisis Raises Firewood Prices, Theft Fears (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-germany-weather-923a058f06c8a679f982824b5a337108

9.      Our Ailing Power Grid Isn’t Cut Out for Climate Change (C|Net News)

https://www.cnet.com/home/energy-and-utilities/our-ailing-power-grid-isnt-cut-out-for-climate-change/?ftag=CAD1acfa04

10.   California: Man’s Body Found Inside Electrical Vault at Abandoned Carousel Mall in San Bernardino (KTLA-TV, Los Angeles, CA)

https://ktla.com/news/local-news/mans-body-found-inside-electrical-vault-at-abandoned-carousel-mall-in-san-bernardino/

SOAPBOX SERENADE – VOX POPULI

11.   Commentary: Why Is Hydroelectricity So Green, & Yet Unfashionable? The oldest renewable source of energy deserves a better fate (IEEE Spectrum)

https://spectrum.ieee.org/hydroelectric-power

12.   Guest Essay: Climate Action Is in Our Hands with Tech That Encourages Small Steps (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/climate-action-is-in-our-hands-with-tech-that-encourages-small-steps/

13.   Guest Essay: Can Trains Save Salmon? (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/oct/29/bill-moyer-can-trains-save-salmon/

14.   Opinion: What Would We Do Without High-Speed Internet? Rural America Knows the Struggle (Deseret News, Salt Lake City, UT)

https://www.deseret.com/opinion/2022/10/28/23426535/opinion-rural-america-high-speed-internet-access

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

15.   ‘It’s Got Nasty’: The Battle to Build the U.S.’s Biggest Solar Power Farm (Yahoo! News)

https://news.yahoo.com/got-nasty-battle-build-us-063519084.html

16.   In Nevada, A Tribe & a Toad Halt a Renewable Power Plant (Washington Post, DC – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2022/10/31/nevada-toad-geothermal-paiute/

17.   Alaska: Golden Valley Electric Association Task Force Proposes Community Solar Project (Fairbanks News-Miner, AK)

https://www.newsminer.com/news/local_news/gvea-task-force-proposes-community-solar-project/article_a3dc63c4-5702-11ed-82be-ef7164562b4f.html

18.   Community Solar: Get Solar Power for Your Home Without Rooftop Panels (C|Net News)

https://www.cnet.com/home/energy-and-utilities/community-solar-get-solar-power-for-your-home-without-rooftop-panels/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

19.   Consumers, Not Corporations, Saved the Power Grid. What Else Can We Do? (Vox)

https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/23340991/power-demand-response-blackout-consumer-climate-change-california-texas-cop27

FISH & WILDLIFE

20.   WA State: Group Raises Concerns on Hatchery Production after Grants Approved for Cowlitz Restoration (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/group-raises-concerns-on-hatchery-production-after-grants-approved-for-cowlitz-restoration,302612

WATER, WATER, ANYWHERE?

21.   New U.S. Plan Could Lead to Federal Action on Colorado River (Associated Press)

https://news.yahoo.com/us-plan-could-lead-federal-180033730.html

22.   Drought Snarls Mississippi River Transit in Blow to Farmers (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/science-business-droughts-mississippi-river-22db8e44d7f1f96b7e0ed32c9c77f621

23.   For Drought-Plagued California, Diverting Columbia River Water Is a Pipe Dream -- For Now (Lewiston Tribune, ID)

https://lmtribune.com/northwest/for-drought-plagued-california-diverting-columbia-river-water-is-a-pipe-dream---/article_8396f9b2-5905-11ed-8530-a7b3550a4323.html

24.   Battle of the Alps? Water Woes Loom amid Climate Change (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/europe-middle-east-business-france-switzerland-19067a12f1ba6e5c5c965be0cf15f5ff

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

25.   California Set a Record for Greenhouse Gas Reductions in 2020, But It Means Nothing (Los Angeles Times, CA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2022-10-30/californias-greenhouse-gas-emissions-drop-9-in-2020

26.   Has This Iconic Pacific Northwest Tree Reached a Tipping Point? (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/has-this-iconic-northwest-tree-reached-a-tipping-point/

27.   An Influential Energy Group Sees Reason for Climate Optimism (National Public Radio)

https://www.npr.org/2022/10/27/1132003727/an-influential-energy-group-sees-reason-for-climate-optimism

28.   The Next Hot Job of the Climate Crisis: Fake-Snow Whisperer (Bloomberg News)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-10-29/fake-snow-is-saving-the-us-ski-season

LONDON CALLING –TELECOMMUNICATIONS

29.   WA State: Quinault Indian Nation to Close ‘Digital Gap’ with New Cable Landing Station (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

https://www.thedailyworld.com/news/quinault-indian-nation-to-close-digital-gap-with-new-cable-landing-station/

30.   Lewis County, ToledoTel Officially Launch Broadband Expansion Project in Winlock (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/lewis-county-toledotel-officially-launch-broadband-expansion-project-in-winlock,302539

31.   CenturyLink Ordered to Fix Poor Service in Rural Montana (Billings Gazette, MT)

https://billingsgazette.com/news/centurylink-ordered-to-fix-poor-service-in-rural-montana/article_b28c4466-5590-11ed-870a-0f41840aafd3.html

32.   USDA Dishes Out $759 Million to Boost Rural Broadband in 24 States (Fierce Telecom)

https://www.fiercetelecom.com/broadband/usda-dishes-out-759-million-boost-rural-broadband-24-states

BEAM ME UP, SCOTTY - THE WIZARDING WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY & CYBERSECURITY

33.   WA State: Grand Opening Set for Microsoft Data Center Near Pangborn (KPQ-Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

https://kpq.com/grand-opening-set-for-microsoft-data-center-near-pangborn/

I SING THE CAR ELECTRIC

34.   Something Surprising Can Cause Electric Vehicles to Catch on Fire. Here’s What Experts Want You to Know (USA Today)

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2022/10/26/electric-vehicle-fires-florida-flooding-what-happened/10553207002/

PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING & MEDIA

35.   Musk Sets Nov. 7 Deadline to Revamp Twitter Verification or Engineers Get Fired, Report Says (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

https://www.king5.com/article/news/nation-world/twitter-blue-verification-monthly-cost-report/507-0d862960-3742-49d1-9616-4d4cd95162b8

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

36.   NASA Caught the Sun Smiling Down on Us, But the Grin Could Signal a Solar Storm (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

https://www.opb.org/article/2022/10/29/nasa-smiling-sun-image-could-signal-solar-storm/

37.   It’s Alive! High-Voltage Lab Sparks Halloween Frankenstein Fantasies (Bonneville Power Administration

https://www.bpa.gov/about/newsroom/news-articles/2022/20221027-its-alive-high-voltage-lab-sparks-halloween-frankenstein-fantasies

38.   Swarming Honeybees Can Produce as Much Electricity as a Thunderstorm, New Study Says (Cable News Network)

https://www.kcra.com/article/swarming-honeybees-can-produce-as-much-electricity-as-a-thunderstorm-new-study-says/41779773

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY

39.   Washington State Ends All COVID-19 State of Emergency Orders on Halloween (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

https://mynorthwest.com/3690549/washington-ends-all-covid-19-state-of-emergency-orders-on-halloween/

40.   2022 Fire Season Burns Fewer Acres Than Recent Years, Washington Fire Officials Say (KOMO News, Seattle, WA)

https://komonews.com/news-brief-newsletter/2022-fire-season-burns-fewer-acres-than-recent-years-dnr-washington-fire-officials-nakia-creek-public-lands-fighters-department-natural-resources

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

A Woman Was Caught Whacking a Golf Ball into the Grand Canyon – The Feds Aren’t Happy

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/woman-caught-whacking-golf-balls-230905926.html

Toulouse-Lautrec Work Hit with Fake Blood at Berlin Museum

https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/toulouse-lautrec-work-hit-fake-blood-berlin-museum-92417646

Lost Rubens Painting, Rediscovered after Two Centuries, Could Sell for $35 Million

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/lost-rubens-painting-found-after-hundreds-of-years-could-get-35-million-in-auction-180981036/

Explorer’s Camera From the 1930s Found on Glacier in Yukon Territory

https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/explorers-camera-1930s-found-glacier-yukon-territory/story?id=92074734

SONG OF THE DAY

Dave Loggins – ‘Augusta’ – The Masters Theme Song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlpwHBn6ikg